Swimming helmet



1952 D. J. DOUGLAS ETAL 8 SWIMMING HELMET Filed Jan. 11, 1947 2 SI-IEETSPSHEET l 25 INVENTORS 23 DONALD J. DOUGLAS 2/ BY RUSSELL L. DOUGLAS Patented Jan. 1, 1952 swnuMnvo HELMET Donald J. Douglas and Russell L. Douglas,

St. Paul, Minn.

Application January 11, 1947, Serial No. 721,602 3 Claims. (Cl. 128-141) Our invention relates to an improvement in swimming helmet wherein it is desired to provide a comfortable protection from the water for the eyes, ears, nose and hair while swimming.

It has been common practice for numerous years to wear swimming caps while swimming to keep the hairdry'. Nose plugs have also been used to prevent water from entering the nose, and ear plugs have been used to protect the ears. Goggles have sometimes beenused while swimming to protect the eyes.

This is particu-,

larly true in swimming pools and the like where the water is apt to contain chlorine or other chemicals which inflame the eyes.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a swimming helmet which extends over the top of the head, completely covering the hair, the eyes, the ears and the nose; and to incorporate in this helmet special features which add great-' ly to the comfort and convenience of swimming.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of transparent lenses in the portion of the helmet overlying the eyes and to make these lenses of a nonfogging type. Due to the fact that the helmet covers a large portion of the head, the temperature within the helmet 'is usually at least temporarily higher than the tem- The lens f perature of the surrounding water. construction is such as to obviate fogging thereo in use.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of lenses having a means of supporting water in contact with the inner surface iof Our lenses include an outer trans t parent shell, and an inner transparent ring mar; r ginally secured to the margin of the outer shell/f the lens.

The inner ring is formed with its inner edge closely adjacent the inner surface of the outer shell, thus forming a ring-shaped chamber into which water may be inserted. This water is free to wash over the inner surface of the outer shell,

tending to equalize the temperature on opposite surfaces of the outer shell, and washing away. any condensation of the inner shell surface". Fogging of the lenses is in this manner obviated;

are unable to see well without glasses.

While swimming, as they are unable to see to good advantage. However, the helmet 0611i ingthe valve in inoperative position.

structed in accordance with our invention may be applied over the glasses so that these glasses may be comfortably worn while swimming.

A further feature of the present inventio'n'r, sides in the provision, in preferred form, of a valve incorporated in the -nose portion-of the helmet, which permits air to be expelled from the helmet. This valve is in the nature of a check valve, which allows air to be expelled, but prevents water from entering the helmet. As a result, the swimmer is permitted to exhale during the swimming operation through the nose and through the check valve if it is desired to do so.

An added feature of the present invention re.-

' sides in providing a means for rendering the check valve inoperative when it is so desired. When rendered inoperative, the air exhaled does not leave the helmet, permitting the exhaled air to be inhaled to somewhat prolong the length of time the swimmer may remain under the surface of the water.

Another feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a cushion or pad means which may be applied either locally or entirely about the lower margin of the helmet to cause the helmet to fit more comfortably about the head of the swimmer. These cushion orpad means may be made of sponge rubber or similar material and may be used to fill any depressions on the surface of the face or head which might otherwise provide an opening into the helmet about the helmet margins.

These and other objects and novel features of our invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of our spec.- ification: I

Figure l is a perspective view of our helmet in use upon the head of a swimmer.

Figure 2 is aside elevational view of the helmet.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through one of the lenses and the adjacent portion of the helmet.-

Figure 4 is a front elevational view through one of the lenses. Figure -5 is a sectional view through one of the lenses showing the manner in which liquid may be retained therein, even when the head is in virtually horizontal position.

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the valve on the nose of the helmet showing the construe tion thereof.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 show- Figure 8 is a side elevational view of a modified form of helmet construction embodying a pocket into which pads may be inserted.

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view through one of the pockets of Figure 8, the position of the section being indicated by the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figureslfl issanelevation view of a portion of the outerwallsof the helmet shown-in Figure 8, to disclose the pocket construction.

Figure 11 is a sectional view through another modified form of helmet construction showing a continuous cushion pad incorporated in the'low'er marginal edges thereof.

The helmet A is provided with a roundedtop portion In designed to fit over the top of the head and is likewise provided with side walls H which extend downwardly to a sufiicient length to extend below the ears andnose of the wearer. As best shown in Figure "3 of the drawings the marginal edge l2 of the helmet is folded back upon itself "and adhered together to provide a marginal rounded edge H. A tubular member [4 is provided across the front of 'the'helmet A adjacent the lower edge thereof. Asimilar tubular member 15 is provided on either side of the helmet, the tubular members [5 being arranged to extend'beneath the ears of the wearer. The tubular members 14 and I5 in the construction'formed are produced by a single width of plastic or similar material with its longitudinal edges l6 adhered in overlaping relation and adhered to the front surface of 'thehelmet A along the lower marginaledgetherof. A rubber strip ll extends through the tubular members l4 and i5 and forms'a means of drawing the lower edge of the helmet together. The strip 1'! acts in the manner of a draw string for drawin the lower marginal edge of the helmet against the surface of the head of the wearer. Obviously the strip I! may comprise any flexible material and the ends thereoimay be secured in any desired way as by a buckle or similar fastening device, or the ends of the strip l1 may ice-merely tied together.

Thenose portion 19 of the helmet is preferably bulged outwardly as illustrated and may be provided at its lower extremity with a valve 20. The valve 29 will be later described in detail.

In the portion of the helmet overlying the eyes, we provide lenses 2! of the type'best illustrated in Figures 3, 4, and 5 of the drawings. These lenses includes a-substantially flat outer lens 22 havinga substantially cylindrical flange 23 integral therewith. This flange 23 supports I an outwardly directed peripheral flange 24 as best illustrated in the drawings' An inner lens 25 is generally concave in form and is provided with a central aperture 26 which is of suflicient size to provide a convenient'sight opening. "The edges of the inner "lens 25 are flared outwardly at 2! encircling the aperture ably constructed of clear .plastic or the like, such as cellulose acetate plastic or cellulose nitrate plastic. Other transparent plastics may similarly be used.

' In'orderto preventfogging of the lenses, water may be inserted through the aperture 26in the inner lens 25' to enterthe'space'betwe'en the lenses 22 and 25. Whenthehelm'et is upright as ilequalize the temperature on "both sides of the outer lens 22, but also tends to wash away any fog or condensation on the inner surface of the lens.

The "valve which we use is best disclosed in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings. The valve 20 includes a central supporting wall 29 having apertures 39 therethrough through which air may pass. upper'partition 3| is secured to the central wall 29 by means of an outwardly bowed side wall portion 32. A similarly outwardly bowed side wall portion 33 acts to support the bottom partition wall 34. Both of the partition walls 3| and '34 are provided with central apertures therein, the upper wall including the central aperture 35 while the lower wall includes'a central aperture 35.

A concave disc 31 is secured to "the intermediate supporting'wall 29. A hollow sleeve-or rivet 39 engages the disc 31. A washer 4| engages beneath the supporting wall 29 and frictionally engages the-sleeve 39 'to hold this sleeve in place and to clamp the "disc 31 to the supporting wall 29. The sleeve .39 forms a guide lior the valve rod 42 which extends through the aperture 36 in the lower partition .wall 34.

A head 43 engages the .undersurface of .a concave flexible disc 44 similar to the disc 31. A washer 45 frictionally engages about the valve rod 42 :to 'clamp'the disc 44 against the head 43. A knob 46 is provided on the end of the valve rod 92 bymeans of which this which this valve rod may be manually manipulated.

The sleeve'39 is provided with an arcuate recess-41 near its upper extremity. The upper end of the valve rod 42 is provided with a split expanding head 49 which is engageable in the re cess or socket 41. The engagement of the head 49 in the rounded socket 47 holds the two discs in proper relation to their respective partitions to act as a check valve.

The discs 31 and 44 are formed of flexible resilient material and may be flattened somewhat under pressure so that air may leave the interior. of the helmet while water is prevented iromentering the same. The air in leaving the helmet passes between the discs 31 and 44 and their respective partition walls 39 and34. Under ordinary conditions, however, the discs 31 and 44 engage against their respective partitions 3| "and 34 to prevent water from flowing into the helmet.

When itis desired to render the valve 20 inoperative, it is only necessary to exert pressure against the valve rod 42 'to urge the same into the position shown in Figure 7 of the drawings. Pressure against the valve rod-44' will compress together the split end 49 of the valve rod 42 and will allow the valve rod 42 to pass through the upper portion of the sleeve 39. When released from the sleeve 39the split-end 49 will spread apart and engage above the top of the sleeve as shown in'Figure 7. When in this position the disc 44 is flattened or compressed, thereby increasing the force necessary to open the same. Thusthe valve 29 is rendered inoperative as a check valve and prevents-air exhaled from leaving'theheimet. r

In Figure 8 of the drawings a helmet B is illustrated which is identical with the helmet A. with the exception that the helmet B incorporates a pocket on each side thereof into which a pad or cushion may be inserted. Some persons have hollows or depressions, particularly in the area beneath the ears. If the helmet A were worn by such persons there would be a tendency for water to leak into the helmet at these points. By placing a pad within the marginal edge of the helmet and against the head at these points this difiiculty may be obviated. As illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings a strip of material 50 is marginally secured to the lower edge of the helmet body inwardly of the folded helmet edge Ill. The strip 50 is folded at 5| intermediate its longitudinal edges so as to provide an inner wall 52 substantially parallel the attached side of the strip. The ends of the strip 50 are adhered at 53 and 54 so as to form a pocket having closed ends and a closed bottom. Areas 55 at the top of the pocket are also adhered together in preferred form.

A block 56 of sponge rubber or the like is removably supported in the pocket thus formed. As a result a pad or cushion is formed inwardly of the walls of the helmet near the lower edge thereof to fill any depression in the surface of the head inwardly of the marginal edge of the helmet. As indicated in Figure 9 of the drawings the attaching strip I1 is outwardly of the pad 56 so that this pad may be compressed against the surface of the head.

In Figure 11 of the drawings a modified form of construction'is illustrated. In this construction the helmet is identical to that illustrated in Figures 1 through 7 of the drawings, but a tubular member 5! is added to the marginal edge 01' the helmet inwardly of the strip 11. The tubular member 51 is preferably formed of a strip of plastic or the like which is folded along spaced lines of fold 59 and 60 and secured together with the longitudinal edges 6| thereof in overlapping relation. An elongated pad or cushion 62 is enclosed within the tubular member 5'! so as to provide a pad extending entirely about the lower marginal edge of the helmet.

While two types of pad means have been illustrated, it should be understood that these are only typical of types of construction which may be used. It is extremely difiicult without using a cushion strip such as 62 to provide a helmet which will fit tightly on all persons. Accordingly it is possible to produce the helmet A and to provide pocket means such as those illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings or as shown in Figure 11 which may be added to the helmet in the event the lower edge of the helmet did not fit tightly over the entire surface encircled. These pockets may be readily added to the helmet either by the user or the seller.

In accordance with the patent statutes, we have described the principles of construction and operation of our helmet, and while we have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, we desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. A swimming helmet including a flexible body designed to extend over the top of the head, the eyes,.ears and nose, and a valve in said body, said valve including a pair of flexible discs. said discs being normally concave, 'avalve frame against which the edges of said discs engage, said discs being resilient to flex open to -allow air to pass therethrough in one direction, said valve frame having an opening therethrough normally closed by said valves in one positionthereof.

2. The structure described in claim 1 and including manually operable means for applying a force to one of said discs thereby urging said disc against said valve frame to hold the opening through the valve frame closed.

3. The structure described in claim 1 and including frictional means on one of said discs and on said valve frame for holding one of said discs firmly against the valve frame.

DONALD J. DOUGLAS. RUSSELL L. DOUGLAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 5 Date 645,408 Vajen Mar. 13, 1900 1,433,676 Cover Oct. 31, 1922 1,483,226 Johnson Feb. 12, 1924 1,501,591 Gage July 15, 1924 2,063,232 Davies Dec. 8, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 12,142 Great Britain Aug. 9, 1912 183,068 Switzerland June 2, 1936 

